Johnny Rad

...lightly drop their 02 GS4? I want a lightly lowered look that doesn't sacrifice ride quality on the stock 17s. Which options are more and less expensive?

Visually speaking, I really like what Kyle did: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=378080

Also, is it advisable to change up the stock struts and shocks when putting on new springs? Will it wear out the stock shocks / struts any faster than normal?

On the otherhand, what about swapping in the L-tuned struts / shocks (I know they're nearly impossible to get now, but weren't they Bilsteins?) and leaving the factory springs in place? Is that an advisable route?

My only experience with a lowered car was my Acura CL-S. Terrible ride quality on stock shocks and CompTech springs versus factory. Am I going to be disappointed if I lower my GS4?!

Thanks for helping a long time noob!

4play4dr

tanabe df210s is the "lightest" drop i would consider

4ntvings

iTrader: (6)

welcome to CL; again, a lucky one catching me on a kind night

1. more costly = coilovers
2. less costly = s/s combo
3. yes, it's highly suggested to always swap the struts as well; thought a little less worry if you're swapping eibach's or NFs (basically something with minimal drop = 1" only)
4. iirc, could be wrong (its been awhile), l-tuned = kyb
5. that link, the guy is on tanabe DF springs. they are considered one of the most aggressive dropping springs (also, espelir and daizen). DFs are not considered a 'lightly' drop set.

OP, be careful of 4play4dr he's wickedly slammed. he's infamous for cutting his DFs...had to have been one of the lowest 2GS on s/s combo...though he cheated! LOL (but check out his car now...sickly wicked )

GS430V8

i think Tanabe DF210s and KYB shocks is the cheapest and nicest drop you can get.

Kyle Harty

iTrader: (17)

That isn't my car, but I answered your PM with my experience with the DF210's and stock shocks like the OP in that thread, I'm not on the factory wheels though. Just a few thoughts after reading the post here. The DF's aren't what most would consider a "light" drop, although it's not "extreme" either by air and coilover standards. With 20's I can still drive pretty normally and I've only scraped the front bumper once, never bottomed out anything else; you just gotta be aware and slow down for speedbumps, angle up steep inclines, you know. It's still very driveable. The body would sit just a little lower on the stock 17's, but shouldn't be too bad.

GS FONZy

iTrader: (6)

for always being so nice, well most of the time

Oh yeah, how come it's taking you longer to rotate the avatar pic?

Johnny Rad

I'm pretty sure my front passenger strut is shot, so I expect to be doing some replacements shortly. As long as I'm at it, I'd like to get the car a bit lower. NOT aggressive, but the factory 4WD look is no good.

I like the idea of L-tuned / KYBs. Will just new shocks and struts lower the car so I don't have to replace the springs, too?!

If new springs and shocks / struts are the only way to get the lightly dropped look, what's less of a drop than the DFs? I value ride quality more than looks.

Thanks for the ideas!

4ntvings

iTrader: (6)

non-agressive springs: eibach's, NFs, or l-tuned (if you can find em). didnt list tein since i'm not a fan of theirs-personal preference.

shocks: kyb to maintain decent ride